The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1887-08-29
A WRECKED MIND.
The Unfortunate Condition of John Ruskin
His Home and Habits.

The Unfortunate Condition of John Ruskin
His Home and Habits.
Cable Special to New York sun.
Everyone knows something OF the ire OF nus,
kim so long a prominent figure as writer and
critic. His father wine merchant who
enriched himself by enormous and prohtaoie
dealings in sherry, and left to his son q fortune
of Ell 900 year (which considerably in
creased on the death of Ruskin's mother. OF ali
that inherited wealth absolutely nothing re-
mains. It's disappearance Is due to Ruskln's
passion for rare and costly paintings books, and
in fact for nearly everything that is beautiful
and expensive and to his utter indifference to
money. lie travels in most luxurious style,
having for long time past absolutely declined to
trave. BY railroad steamb boat when it can posi-
bly, be avoided, and gong about from place to place
in his private first carriage
His liberality, too, is un bounded, and for years
he has supported list of pensioners-broken
down artists. writer's. etc. whose multitude
IN ght fright ten the purse of duke. Even now
he refuses to acknowledge the fact that he is
relatively poor, and the friends who look after
MS financial interests have endless difficulty in
inducing him to diminish the generous outpour
of his money He lives now upon the profits
derived from his books, amounting to from
80. 900 to f3, 900 yearly. Even with such an in
come his liberality has led him to such straits
that he has consented to the publication of
cheap edition of his works, which heretofore he
would never sanction.
Fortunately he possesses in mis- paintings an
almos: inexhaustible supply of wealth. Now
and again picture disappears from his walls,
and it's whereabouts remains mystery to all
Ruskin's great friend. until it commences to be
talked of as being in the possession of some less
appreciative but wealthier owner. Such sales,
however. are invariably financially highly ad-
vantageous to Mr.. Ruskin. His knowledge of
art causes him to possess only articles of the
highest value, and that. value is greatly in
creased by the knowledge that the article Is
from the collection OF the great Ruskin.
The country house in which Mr.. Ruskin lives
is Brentwood beautifully and romantically. but
uphealthfully situated at the base of hill into
which it is. in fact partially built. 1t is dense
~ surrounded by trees and shrubbery, and is
the edge of Coniston lake. in the beautiful
English lake region. The greatest beauty of
Brentwood. however, is in the interior of the
house. which is but rarely seen by the bands of
tourists, stricken with what is known Rus
kiumania, who prowl about the exterior eagerly
plucking the flowers which have been touched
by John Ruskn and anxious to Walk where Rus
kin has walked.
limits the house in which Ruskin has lived, and
in which his trouble has come upon him. 1t is
simply inexhaustible museum of artistic
treasures. Cases of rare books and beautiful
paintings cover every wall Turner'S works of
course predominate, Mr.. Ruskins bedroom be-
ing entirely hung with them. Chief among art
treasures is perhaps Tltians "Doge of Venice"
which hangs over the mantle in the dining room.
facing the portraits of Ruskin's father, the old
wine merchant, and that of his mother, in a IA
vorite study. He has several rooms fitted up
for writing In one is portrait by Raphael
himself, and a table are tw quaint inkstands.
one of which was formerly used by Calico and
from them alternately, but has decided prefer
for that which furnished Inky immortality
to the mathematical inspirations of Calico SO
different from Ruskins own.
For long time Ruskin has suffered from the
peculiar trouble. which has caused him much
speculation. and during that time his almost
constant and companion has been his
cousin, Mrs. Arthur Severn who has devoted
herself to him with great unselfishness since the
divorce in which his unhappy marriage culmi-
mated. Mrs. Severns influence over ner emf
nent cousin was greater than that of anv other
pc rson, and so great 10 his esteem for her that
he has made to her his house and all its
treasures. to become hers at his death. In the
deed to Mrs. Severn Mr.. Rus6in deprlves him
self of the power to revoke his gift declaring in
it his desire to take from himself 'the right to
change the destination OF this property when
acting my second self" Mr.. Ruskn speaks
of having been his second self after the attacks.
from of which he is now suffering, and dur
ing which his entire character and character
stcs are changed.
The present attack began in April, during
Mrs. Severns absence from Brentwood. 1t
took at first unusually violent form. during
which he labored under great excitement, and
was utterly uncontroI liable by his friends
He extremely fond of children. and be
had adopted in q sort of way number of
children of poor villagers. Strange it may
seem. this led TO much unpleasant talk on the
part of some of his neigh bors, so much SO that
Mrs Severn and her husband were compelled to
it terfere. This necessary interference by Mrs.
Savern appeared to irritate tbs sick man very
strongly, and before Mrs Severn had been back
many days his peculiar indisposition took the
form of a violent dislike to her. He began writ
ing letters to friends all over the kingdom in
which he spoke of her very harshly, ever ac-
cusng her of desire to drive him from his own
house, which he had given to her. Finally he |
ordered his valise to be packed. and took up his
quarters at the Head water Hotel, little coun-
try inn, accompanied only by his faithful valet
Baxter, who never leaves him, and is not in the
least influenced by the fact that his master dis
ch argos him at least twenty times a month.
During the period OF his illness at the inn |
Ruskin continued to write letters about Mrs.
Severn. but a characteristic of the great man is
that he does not seal his letters, but always |
leaves that unpleasant task the less distin- |
gushed lips of faithful Baxter. The latter, of |
course, approaching bis masters irresponsible |
delivered all of the letters carefully |
to Mrs. Severn, and thus was avoided great |
deal of un peasantuess which Ruskin himself |
would most keenly have regretted upon ceasing |
to be his second self.
After brief stay at the inn Baxter was or |
dered pack up. and his master went to live at |
the cottage of former servant now pensioned |
off Here bis liberAlity. great under all circum- |
stances. developed itself to great and eccentric
degree. He had with him his check book, and |
despite the entreaties of his valet, he began dis
checks right and left to the little chill
dren OF the servant with whom he had taken up |
his abode. and to mum Der of villagers. The |
checks religiously cashed without excep- |
ton, far can be ascertainec those who re-
ceived them not feeling certain perhaps that the |
donor irresponsible, and when Mr.. Ruskin,
his excited condition temporarily abated, re-
turned to his home, it was to find his bank
account overdrawD. although fortunately to no
serious extent
The nature of the unfortunate mans malady
then entirely changed. All excitement disap-
peared, and, i'll physically as we'll as mentally.
ne took to his bed in a sad melancholy, almost
silly condition He conceived the notion
that his extravaganza had made him poor. and
that he ought not to eat, since he could no
longer afford TO supply himself with food The
result might have been most serious-for Mr..
Ruskin's spirits pitifully low-had not his
good friend Mrs. Severn hit upon q plan for
cheering him mp. She induced him to make out
A check for ESQ. had 1t cashed. and convinced
him that his checks and his credit were still
good by piling fifty gold pieces a little table
beside his bed. where he could finger them. The
result was very encouraging. for a few days Mr..
Ruskn and about and so much like his
bid self that Mrs. Severn felt able to make
Trip TO London.
Unfortunately the Improvement did not last.
In very short time Mrs. Severn received a
telegram in London informing her that her dis
lin cuished cousin had had relapse and WAS IN
. worse condition than before. being very